Dewan Rakyat’s afternoon session delayed for third time amid Covid-19 scare

KUALA LUMPUR (July 29): The Dewan Rakyat’s afternoon session was postponed for the third time, now to 5.15pm, on the grounds that two Covid-19 cases were detected in Parliament.

At 2.30pm, Deputy Speaker Datuk Rashid Hason cited a letter from Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah about the two coronavirus cases — one of which was detected this morning.

“It is regrettably informed that the Ministry of Health received a letter at 12.30pm about two positive Covid-19 cases among those who attended Parliament.

“It is requested that tests be conducted on all who attended the session including the MPs. No one is allowed to exit the Parliament compound until the results are obtained,” Rashid said.

One of the two cases involved an individual who was in the Parliament from Monday to Wednesday, while the other was detected today during the daily screening.

The postponement came amid news that cabinet ministers and government MPs were at the residence of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong issued a statement denying he had given the consent for the revocation of emergency ordinances on July 21.

This is the third postponement today, following a brief commotion in the Dewan Rakyat which ensued after the statement from the palace came to light. This leaves just 15 minutes for the special sitting today, which is scheduled to end at 5.30pm sharp — also due to Covid-19 concerns.

On the first day of the five-day special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat on July 26, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan informed the house that the Cabinet had revoked all emergency ordinances on July 21.

Some MPs questioned the minister’s statement on grounds that only the King can make such a decision. The Emergency Proclamation itself is scheduled to end on Aug 1.

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